9.d) Designate Newspaper Meeting Date: 1/19/2010
Agenda Item: �' �
City Council Agenda Report
City of Scandia
14727 209`h St. North
Scandia, MN 55073 (651) 433-2274
Action Requested: Designate an official newspaper for 2010.
Deadline/ Timeline: Statutory cities must designate an official newspaper at their annual
meeting.
Background: • The official newspaper is the paper designated for publication of
certain notices for meetings,hearings, elections and city finances
required by law.
• The City has budgeted $2,500 for legal notice publications in
2010. In 2009 and 2008, the city spent$1,657 and $2,462,
respectively.
• Proposals were requested from the Forest Lake Times/ECM
Publishers (the current legal newspaper),the Country Messenger
and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The Pioneer Press did not submit a
proposal. A chart comparing the proposals received from the
Forest Lake Times and the Country Messenger are attached.
• State law(Minn. Stat. 331A.02)provides specific qualifications a
legal newspaper must meet. In previous years, the Country
Messenger was disqualified from serving as the legal newspaper
because it did not meet those requirements.
• Since the 2009 official newspaper was selected,the state law was
changed to reduce the circulation requirement from 500 to 400.
The Attorney General also issued an opinion finding that a
newspaper may satisfy the requirements of the law where its
known office of issue is in an out-of-state county adjacent to a
Minnesota County. The City Attorney has reviewed this
information, and indicated that he will not object on legal grounds
to�the designation of the Country Messenger as the city's official
newspaper.
Recommendation: I recommend that the Council designate the official newspaper for
2010.
Attachmentsl • Comparison of Proposals
Materials provided: . Letter dated December 10, 2008 from ECM Publishers, Inc.
• Letter dated January 11, 2009 from the Country Messenger
Contact(s):
Prepared by: Anne Hurlburt, Administrator
(legal newspaper)
Page 1 of 2
O1/14/10
City of Scandia
Comparison of Legal Newspaper Proposals
January, 2010
News a er Forest Lake Times Countr Messen er
Meets Requirements of Yes Yes
Minnesota Statutes 331A.02
Office Location Forest Lake, Minnesota Osceola, Wisconsin
Total Circulation 13,680 1,325
Scandia Circulation 1,100 442
Distributed by route carriers in U.S. Mail
55073 zip code,newspaper Newsstand locations Scandia
Distribution Method rack at Scandia Community Olde Town Liquor,Todd's
Center Farm and Home, Scandia
Store
Free distribution
SubscripNon Price Mailed subscription $26.00 per year
$48.00/ $43.00 senior rate $0.75 single copy
Publication Schedule Weekly,Thursday Weekly, Wednesday
Submission Deadline Monday, 5:00 p.m. Friday,Noon
Type Size/Lines per Inch 6 pt/ 11 lines per inch 6 pb 11 lines per inch
Price per Column Inch $6.45 $4.00
Posted on Paper's Website, Yes Yes '
No Extra Charge
Page 2 of 2
O1/14/10
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OREST AKE IMES ; � ; �J � i
ECM Publishers, Inc.
880 SW 15th Street
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601 • Fax 651-464-4605
December 10, 2009 ��,�,���f��
Ms. Anne Hurlburt, Administrator [i�� '� �j ?(���
City of Scandia
14727 209�h St. CITY OF SCANDlA
Scandia, MN 55073
Dear Anne:
The Forest Lake Times would like to bid for legal printing status as the designated
Official Newspaper for the City of Scandia. The Forest Lake Times is qualified by the
State of Minnesota as a Legal Newspaper under Minnesota Statutes Section 331A.02,
subd. 1(i).
The bid to publish legal notices in the Forest Lake Times for the year 2010 will be $6.45
per column inch with 6 point type and 11 lines per inch. The notice will also be posted on
our website, ������w.forestlaketimes.com/publicnotices.html for all to view for free and at
no charge to the city. The current circulation is about 13,680, including 1,100 households
from the 55073 zip code which are delivered by route carriers to the black tubes. We
would prefer legal notices emailed to le4als.cbflnb@ecm-inc.com. Our deadline is at 5:00
p.m. on Monday for Thursday publication.
We look forward to continuing to serve the residents of the City of Scandia.
Si erely, ,.-�
,
;
(. -�,� --
St��e Rajtar
Manager
Forest Lake Times
Publishers of.•
Forest Lake Times • St. Croix Valley Peach • ECM Post Review • Commercial Web Printing�
Commercial Sheetfed Printing • Community Guides
ountir es s en er Newspaper
P.O.Box 96, Scandia, MN 55073
651-433-3845• FAX 651-433-3158
January 11, 2010
Anne Hurlburt
City of Scandia
P.O. Box 128
Scandia, MN 55073
Dear Ms. Hurlburt:
As the only local paper covering news and information weekly for the City of Scandia and the sur-
rounding areas,we desperately need you to consider the Country Messenger as your legal newspa-
per. Note an outstanding 3% growth from 2008 circulation 429 to 2009 circulation 442
The Country Messenger:
• Our publication prints on Tuesday and is delivered to homes on Wednesday. Legals should be
submitted by Friday at noon.
•The rate is$4.00 per column inch.
•Type size of 6 pt. and 11 lines per inch.
• Our total circulation is 1,325 and Scandia's circulation is 442.
•Distributed through the USPS and the following newsstand locations. Scandia Old Town Liquor,
Todd's Farm and Home and Scandia, Store.
• Also all legal notices that publish in the Country Messenger will be displayed online at www.
countrymessenger.com at no additional charge.
As per the recently amended Minnesota statutes, we believe we qualify as a legal newspaper. (See
attachment).
Our goal is to provide the best possible coverage of the local people, news, events and govern-
ment.
If you have any questions,please feel free to contact me at anytime.We look forward to continuing
to serve you and the community.
Sincerely,
��.
Carter Johnson
Publisher
Sun & Country Messenger